SWARMING IN MOVABLE-COMB HIVES. 
61 
HOW TO MAKE SWARMS BY “DIVIDING. - ’ 
We will give the principal methods for swarming bees in the 
movable-comb hive, any one of which may be used according to 
circumstances or the choice of the bee-keeper. The following 
process is the most convenient when making swarms away from 
home. Spread a sheet upon the ground, and after blowing a 
little smoke into the entrance of the hive raise it carefully and 
place it upon the sheet. If it is taken any distance from the old 
stand, an empty hive should be left, to hold the returning bees. 
Also place upon the edge of the sheet your new hive, with the 
cap and frames removed, entrance closed and movable side in. 
Proceed to open the old hive ; meanwhile quieting the bees with 
your smoke. Separate the young bees from the old ones by 
shaking them from the combs upon the sheet three feet or more 
in front of the hive. When shaking a comb, hold it perpendic- 
ular, to prevent breaking, and dislodge the bees with a down- 
ward shake. If the weather be warm and the combs new and 
tender, instead of shaking them brush off the bees with a wing 
or quill. Keep a sharp watch for the queen by rimuing the eye 
over each comb, both before and after shaking it. 
Do not spend much time, however, in looking for the queen, 
except to be careful not to put her into the hive which is to 
contain most of the combs. As fast as the combs are shaken, 
set them into the new hive. If the queen be found, place the 
comb upon which she rests and another comb containing honey 
in one of the hives with one-fourth of the bees, and give the 
balance of the combs and three-fourths of the bees to the other 
